Method and apparatus for drying hair



E. L. ROCKWOOD 3 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING HAIR Filed Sept. 50,1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l E ar/ L. fioc/rwooa (Quwvm Elm/M434- Feb. 6, 1940.E. RocKwooD METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING HAIR Filed Sept. 30, 1956 2Sheets-Sheet 2 gm wm V Patented Feb. 6, 1940 v 2,188,924

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,188,924 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRYINGHAIR Earl L. Rockwood', Toledo, Ohimassignor to The De Vilbiss Company,Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application September 30, 1936,Serial No. 193,300 6 Claims. (Cl. 132-9) This invention relates to hairdrying and wavline 'l-l of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of ing,and is more particularly directed to a method another form of holdingdevice; Fig. 9 is a perand machine in which heated air is used toperspective view of the holding device shown in Fig. form the dryingoperation. 8, with the parts in open position to receive a The primaryobject of the invention is the mass of hair to be formed; Fig. 10 is atop plan provision of a hair drying apparatus which view of the samedevice, with a part broken away,

' operates on divided masses of hair and completely and the holdingmeans in closed position over a dries the hair in a very short period oftime by mass of hair; Fig. 11 is a perspective view of anpassing airthrough such-masses. other form of hair holding device; Fig. 12 is an 19Another object of the invention is the provision enlarged section online l2--l2 of Fig. 11, and 19 of hair drying apparatus in whichattachments Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12, with the parts forholding hair in configuration of .curls and in open position. waves areutilized and constructed to bring the Referring to the drawings, themachine condrying air in close association with the hair. sists of abase or standard l mounted on a plura 15 Another object of the inventionis the provision ity of W e 2 so that it y be readily moved 15 of anovel method for drying divided masses of about. A conventional electricblower and motor hair by forcing a drying medium through the assembly3is mounted on the base I. The blower, masses. r designated by 3*, isprovided with an inlet con- Another object of the invention is theprovision duit 4 and an exhaust conduit 5 extending verof novel means toutilize heated air in the operatically re r r Th n t ondui 4 rmi- 20tion of drying hair in such a manner as to eliminates in an inlet port 6controlled by a rotatable nate the objectionable noise and vibrationusually valve 1 which is adapted to be manually moved accompanying theuse of a hair dryer. to close off or open the port.

Another object of the invention is the provision h inlet p 5 is in turndisposed Within a of a hair drying apparatus in which the subjecthousing formed by pp a lower p a e 8 25 on which the device is used isfree to move about v g a grill m Work Spanning the Space to a limitedextent during the drying operation. betwee the p s s that the sides fthe hous- Another object of the invention is the provision ing are opento the atmosphereof hair drying apparatus which utilizes air The upp rnd f t x u t ndu t 5 xt nd warmed only slightly but which is stilleffective above the plates 8 and is provided with a rotatable 30 inrapidly drying hair. and adjustable end piece H! which is fixed in anyAnother object of the invention is the provision desired. position by aclamping screw H. The of hair drying apparatus which will dry hairportion ll] of the exhaust conduit is of inverted U rapidly withoutdisturbing the arrangement of form and terminates in a heating anddistributthe hair. ing head generally designated by l2. 3

Other objects and advantages of the invention As shown in Fig. 2, theheating and distributing will become apparent as the descriptionproceeds, head is formed of a shell l3 forming an air heatreferencebeing had to the accompanying drawing chamber M in which is disposed anelectric ings, in Wh ch heating element l5 of any suitable type. Elec-Figure 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic elevatrical connection is made tothe heating element tional view of a device constructed in accordance [5by a lead H which extends back through the with the present invention;Fig. 2 is a fragmenexhaust conduit to a point' near its lower end taryvertical sectional view of the heating and where it emerges to enter aswitch box l8 on top distributing head taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 3; ofthe housing of the motor 3. Thus, current is :r. Fig. 3 is a bottom planview of the heating and supplied to the heating element [5 at will, andif distributing head taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1; desired may bethermostatically controlled by Fig. 4 is a detail assembly view of theend of a any conventional apparatus so as to maintain a conduit fordistributing heated air showing an selected temperature of the exhaustair. attachment which may be used to impart a pre- The bottom of the airheating chamber M is so determined configuration to a subdivided massformed by a dished plate 20 having a plurality of of hair; Fig. 5 is asomewhat diagrammatic pernipples 22 fixed in its lower surface andarranged, spective view of one form of hair forming device, as shown inFig. 3, in two substantially concentric with the parts in open position;Fig. 6 is a similar particircular rows. Each nipple 22 is adapted toview, with parts broken away, and the holding receive a flexible airdistributing tube or conduit 5 means in closed position; Fig. 7 is asection on 24 through which heated air is passed to perform 56 axialmovements of the tube by small ears 38 struck out from the innerextremity of the elbow 26. The other arm of the elbow 26 is formedintermediate its ends with a bead 32 extending therearound so that asplit resilient tubular part 34 of a forming unit 36 may be snapped overthe downwardly extending arm of the elbow 26. In 4 this manner, theforming unit 36 is free to rotate about the elbow 26 by reason of itscooperation with the bead 32. l

The forming unit 36 may be considered as illustrative and will be usedto designate generally any of the hair forming devices hereinafterdescribed. It should be understood that those units described later inthe specification and shown in Figs. to 11, inclusive, are allinterchangeable with the forming device 36, depending on the type ofwave or curl to be imparted to the subject's hair.

When the device is not in use, the forming units 36 may be slipped fromengagement with the end of the elbow 26, which latter may then be madeto engage a series of hollow projecting pins 40 mounted on a suitablering around the housing l3. In this manner, the tubes 24 are all neatlygathered in a definite position and are kept from dangling beneath thehead l2. The hollow projecting pins 40 are made hollow so that air maypass freely therethrough during a warming up operation of the machine.It will be seen that if the pins 40 were solid, air pressure in thetubes 24 would cause them to be lifted from the pins and propelled awayfrom the head.

As shown in Figs. 5 to 13, inclusive, various types of hair formingdevices may be used with the present invention. Each shows the commoncharacteristic that it is adapted to clamp or grip firmly a divided massof hair and hold it in a desired configuration while air from one of theindividual conduits 24 is forced into intimatecontact with the dividedmass of hair to be dried.

The type shown in Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, is a curling device includinga body 50 formed of a plurality of parallel bars fixed to the peripheryof cylindrical end pieces 52 and 53. The end piece 53 is hollow and isadapted to be snapped over the elbow end connection 26 of one of anyindividual air conduits 24. A holding bar 54 is pivoted to the end piece53 and in use is placed Over the end of the hair to be curled which isthen Wrapped over it. A snap latch 55 is also pivoted to the end piece53 and has an engaging roller 56 adapted to engage the end piece 52. Atension is placed on the roller when it is in latching position by siderods 51 so that the latch will stay in place over the body of hair.

The species of holding device shown in Figs. 8, 9 and is that adapted toform fiat curls and includes hingedly connected opposed upper and lowerbody plates 68 and 6|. The plates are connected by means of ears 62 and63 struck from the respective upper and lower plates and journaled on apin 64. A coil spring 65 is wound about the pin 64 and has one of itsends bearing against the upper and lower plates, respectively, so as toforce them into closed position, as shown in Fig. 8. The upper plate 60is formed with a plurality of channels 66 in its upper surface for thereception of a hair pin 61 with which the mass of hair designated 68 isheld in the desired configuration during the drying operation. The upperplate v6i! has a resilient end section 66* separated therefrom. Intumedjaws 69 are formed on the outer ends. of each of the upper and lowerplates 60' and 6|, so as to firmly position the holding device withrespect to the head of the subject by gripping the remaining mass ofhair close to the head. An air receiving conduit 10 is formed in theupper plate 68 and is split longitudinally as at l l so as to enable thedevice to be snapped about the elbow 26 of any of the individual airconduits. Obviously, any suitable fastening means may be used to connectthe air conduit to the forming device.

The type of forming device shown in Figs. 11, 12,

and 13 is adapted to be used to form waves in the hair of the subjectand includes opposed clamping jaws 80 and 6| each having a channel 82adjacent their upper ends formed as a part of a cylinder and terminatingin upstanding. ears or finger pieces 83. The channel parts 82 areadapted to be held in intimate bearing relation to a hollow perforateddistributor tube 84 by a spring clip 85 which bears against the outsideof the jaws 80 and 84 and urges them together to the position shown inFig. 12. The spring clip 85 is preferably made integral with anupstanding tubular nipple 86 slotted longitudinally of its length as at8! to receive the elbow 26 of one,of the air conduits. The distributortube 84 has a centrally disposed upstanding receiving conduit 88 whichis inserted in the nipple 86 so that air from the elbow 26 passesthrough the nipple 86, the receiving conduit 88 and into the distributortube 84. Since the perforated distributor tube runs throughout thelength of the forming device, the distribution of air over the entiremass of hair held between the jaws 80 and 8i is substantially uniform.Small teeth 89 are struck from the jaws 80 and 8| and serve to anchorthe device firmly with respect to a mass of hair designated by 90.

The attachments are usually applied to curls or peaks of waves as thehair at these points is gathered in concentrated masses that areinclined to dry very slowly. The rest of the hair generally is in lightstrands that dry more rapidly. Occasionally, however, in the dressing ofthe hair a heavy section of hair may be left straight. This mass of hairwill ordinarily retain its moisture for quite a period of rtime. .Myinvention may be used to facilitate the drying of such hair. 7 Theattachment illustrated in Fig. 8, while primarily designed for curls,will also grasp a solid body of straight hair without disturbing thehair arrangement. The attachment shown in Fig. 11 may be adapted tostraight hair by bending the side lip portions so they lie insubstantially the same plane as the hair gripping prongs 89. The lattermay then reach the hair that is lying fiat and will grasp it withoutpulling it into a wave. To dry hair before it is dressed or otherwisearranged, these same attachments may be placed in engagement with thehair at various locations about the head irrespective of anycontemplated coiffure.

In operation the forming units are placed on the subjects head to formthe desired curls or waves in the hair and to hold the hair in theproper position for drying. The several elbows 26 are then engaged withthe stems of the forming units, which latter are hollow throughout theirentire length. The heating unit is then turned on and allowed to come upto temperature after which the motor 3 and blower 3 are started. Air isthen sucked in through the inlet port 6 and inlet conduit 4 and forcedout through exhaust hot as it is used in ordinary hair driers.

conduit! and its extension i into the heating chamber ll. The air isheated within the chamber 14 and is distributed through the varioustubes 24 into the forming units where it dries the subdivided mass ofhair held by the particular unit. It will be seen that by the rotatableconnections of the forming unit with the elbow 26 and of the elbow 26with the distributing tubes 24 that the subject is free to turn her headinto almost any" desired position without disturbing the dryingoperation. This'obviates the disadvantage of close contact with a singleconduit carrying heated air in which the subject must maintain her headin a particular position in order that the drying operation may becarried out. With the use of this invention ther is no need to placehair nets over the hair while it is being dried. These are utilized inall instances at the present time to keep the hair from beingdisarranged by the force of the air discharged by the ordinary drier,and represent an item of considerable expense and trouble.

A further advantage of the present invention is that by drying smallmasses of hair with each conduit the drying operation is carried on muchmore rapidly than is the case where a single heated air stream is blownagainst the subject's head with no attempt to direct the air againstthat part of the hair lying close to the scalp. By the presentapparatus, air under pressure is forced into intimate contact with eachsmall mass of hair. Because of the effectiveness from a dryingstandpoint of this apparatus through the directing of the air in suchintimate contact with the hair, it is not necessary to have the air asThe heat of the air in such hair driers makes them very uncomfortable,particularly since the hot air is not only driven against the surface.of the head, but also along the neck and face. \As the air from thepresent apparatus is discharged only I within the hair and diffuses awayfrom the head.

even its slight warmth is not brought in contact with the face and neck.The lower drying temperature of the air is much better for the hair asheat is inclined to dry out the oil of the hair, an element necessary topreserve its health and beauty.

The noise with this unit is less objectionable because the blower isfurther away from the head of the customer, it does not have the fullopening found in models now marketed which seems to amplify the noise,the air escapes only through the restricted ports of the hair curlingattachments, and the noise of the escaping air is muiiled by the strandsof hair held by the attachments.

Because of the speed with which it acts in drying the hair, a customermay have her hair combedout. (this is done to remove the dried particlesof wave-fixing solution) and otherwise finished up before she'leaves thebeauty shop. This saves her the embarrassment of leaving the shop withher hat in hand and her hair still plastered with moisture, which is theusual practice as few women seem to care to sit under the present driersfor the time sufficient to completely dry the hair. Instead, they preferto let their hair dry of its own accord and either to comb it out andput on the finishing touches at home or to return to the shop the nextday to have the work completed.

If desired, a suitable hygroscopic material such as activated alumina ordehydrated calcium sulphate may be placed within the housing formed bythe plates 8 and mesh work 9 and air drawn into the housing by thesuction action of the blower 3 is dehumidified before being used. In

this manner, the drying operation may be expedited since the capacity ofthe air to absorb moisture is distinctly increased. The air may alsobefiltered and cleaned by the introduction of the filter unit adjacentthe intake conduit.

While the invention has been shown in connection with a particular formand disposition of the parts, it will be readily appreciated that otherconnector pieces to hold a mass of hair to be dried and force air fromthe conduits therethrough. I

2. In a hair drying apparatus, a chamber, an electric heating element insaid chamber, a plurality of relatively small flexible conduits leadingfrom said chamber, means to force air through said chamber into saidconduits, connector'pieces rotatably held in the freeends of saidconduits, and hollow hair forming devices rotatably attached to saidconnector pieces and adapted to hold a mass of hair to be dried andforce air therethrough from said conduits.

3. In combination, a hollow hair holding device adapted to hold a massof hair to be dried in such a configuration that the dried vhair will beformed, means for heating air, and means to 3 force air heated by saidlast means under pressure into said holding device so that the air mustpass through hair held thereby.

4. In a hair drying apparatus, a hair clamp having openings therein,means for heating air,

and means for forcing air heated by said last means under pressure intothe clamp and through said openings through hair held thereby.

5. A hair forming device including .a pair of opposed forming membershaving outwardly flaring lower ends and having arcuate upper sections, adistributor tube received between the arcuate sections of said membersand being perforated at intervals throughout its length, a

connector member flged to saiddistributor tube and projecting upwardlytherefrom and adapted to receive a conduit carrying air under pressurewhich passes through said distributor tube to hair held between saidforming members, and a resilient clip surrounding said connector memberand engaging each of said forming members to urge them together.

6. The method of drying hair which includes arranging and holding thehair in desired configurations, heating air, liberating a plurality ofstreams of the heated air under pressure in close contact with the hair,and holding the hair in the path of the released air whereby theliberated air is forced to pass through the hair.

EARL ROCKWOOD.

